Deacon doings out in Portland, Oregon: news that they’ve just ordained a half dozen more men to the diaconate:

Six men were ordained permanent deacons Saturday for service in Catholic parishes of western Oregon.

“Today’s celebration is all about service, a tradition in our church community that goes all the way back to the Lord Jesus Christ himself who came to serve and not to be served,” Archbishop John Vlazny told a cathedral packed with parishioners, friends and families of the men.

The archbishop urged the men to “be living reminders to all that no one can truly love God if he does not also love his neighbor.”

Those ordained were William Bloudek, Jr., Gerald Giger, Jose Gutierrez, Robert Page, Arthur Schmidt and Stephen Tabor.

Deacons are one of three orders of ordained ministers in the Catholic Church: bishops, priests and deacons. The origin of deacons is described in the Acts of the Apostles. When the 12 Jesus chose became overwhelmed, they picked seven men and commissioned them to represent and reinforce the servant ministry of the church.
The archdiocese currently has 43 permanent deacons.

Also on Saturday, the archbishop recognized four men called to candidacy for diaconate ordination in the near future. David Briedwell, Michael Caldwell, Dennis Desmarais and Timothy Dooley will continue their formation in matters human, spiritual, academic and pastoral.

Craig Casey and Timothy King, in the early stages of their preparation for ordination as permanent deacons, were installed as lectors.

The archbishop thanked families of the new deacons, especially the wives. “In many ways your lives are being changed too in today’s ordination,” he said. “Your husbands and fathers become public servants of the church; icons of the servant Jesus who prefers to wash feet rather than relax at table. You will have to share him with others more widely and more often.”

There’s much more in the article, including biographies of the new deacons and a little information about the history of this ministry.

God bless ’em, every one. And welcome, brothers!

Photo: by Gerry Lewin, Catholic Sentinel